Banish Foreign Cloth

Foreign cloth must be totally banished from the Indian market, if India is to become an economically free nation, if her peasantry is to be freed from chronic pauperism, if that peasantry is to find honourable employment during times of famine and such other visitations. Protection of her staple industry is her birth-right. I would, therefore, protect the Indian mills against foreign competition, even though for the time being it may result in mulcting the poor people. Such mulcting can take place only if the mill-owners are so unpatriotic as to raise prices owing to the monopoly they may secure.

Similarly and consistently, I would protect hand-spun Khaddar against the home mills. And I know that, if only foreign competition is avoided, Khaddar will be protected without difficulty. Foreign cloth will be banished when public opinion becomes effectively powerful. The same power will insure the protection of Khaddar against mills. But my strong belief is that Khaddar will come to its own without any unseemly war with the mills. But, whilst Khaddar has only a limited number of votaries, they, the votaries, must necessarily preach Khaddar in preference to, and to the exclusion of, yarn and cloth manufactured even in our mills. To give the option is to kill Khaddar.

- Young India: Aug. 28, 1924.